Max Verstappen logged surprise laps in a Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife just days after finishing fourth in Miami.
The four-time champion initially raced under the pseudonym “Franz Hermann” before confirming his identity on social media.
Veteran Voices Safety Fears
Former Williams driver Ralf Schumacher used Sky Germany’s Backstage Pit Lane podcast to question the wisdom of the outing.
“If I were his team boss, I would have asked him if he was out of his mind,” Schumacher said.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to do this on the Nordschleife.
“The DTM was banned there in the past because it was simply too fast, and now the GT3 cars are incredibly fast.
“Things can happen so quickly. Racing in a GT3 car, okay, I can understand that, but why did it have to be the Nordschleife?”
Contractual and Sporting Implications
Top drivers often face clauses restricting dangerous extracurricular driving, and insiders suggest Red Bull management was “surprised” rather than furious.
Verstappen runs his own GT3 outfit, Verstappen.com Racing, and views occasional appearances as brand-building exercises.
The Dutchman will return focus to Formula 1 this weekend, sitting third behind the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
The Nordschleife Factor
At 20.8 kilometres with more than 150 turns, the track dubbed “The Green Hell” remains motorsport’s ultimate challenge.
While industry demonstration days are common, full-speed runs carry risks even for elite professionals.
Broader Debate on Driver Freedom
Schumacher’s critique reignites perennial tension between commercial commitments and personal freedom for modern F1 stars.
Teams balance marketing value against the nightmare of losing a driver to injury outside grand-prix machinery.
Outlook for Red Bull
Verstappen’s Imola form will ultimately determine whether the episode fades or fuels further scrutiny.
Strong points could render the Nürburgring jaunt a colourful footnote; a poor weekend might prompt tougher internal policies.